Opposite of Loneliness Essay Example for Free

Opposite of Loneliness Essay In the article â€Å"Opposite of loneliness† by Marina Keegan, it explains about the life of a young adult who started her adulthood in Yale University. A place she had found happiness and most certainly the opposite of loneliness. Moreover, she finds herself completely attached to it as she had said in the first paragraph â€Å"What I’m grateful and thankful to have found at Yale and what I’m scared of losing when we wake up tomorrow and leave this place†. This phrase shows us that Yale brought out the best in her, something she fears losing and that she is actually very reluctant to have to leave. She is afraid that all her memories and experiences she has gone through would be gone once she steps out of Yale. This article shows the basic development of a young adult’s social life beginning with a simple circle of friends or a clique and the attachment that became stronger as one grow fonder of the people around her which is exactly what she faces in her experience in Yale where it was mentioned in paragraph three, â€Å"Yale is full of tiny circle we pull around ourselves†. She found that even though not everyone knows everyone, there is still unity and a sense of togetherness among the students in Yale. She also added that the experienced they shared among themselves were priceless and unforgettable and that she felt safe and loved whenever in the company of her peers during her time in Yale. This article allows us to see that the writer begins to discover herself and learns to comprehend about life as she faces challenges along the way while being in Yale. The fear of knowing the truth or fear of not knowing at all is something every individual learns to adapt to however the word â€Å"fear† should never conquer a person as it would only demotivate ourselves instead f seeing the positive side of life just as she had mentioned in paragraph 4 â€Å"But let us get one thing straight: the best years of our lives are not behind us. They’re apart of us† The writer starts comparing the her past and the possible future where she wished that she could wind back time and correct her past mistakes and regrets if given the chance to. It makes us realize that in life there will be scenes playing in our minds like a 1980’s classical film in which the â€Å"What if† takes place. There are times that every individual wished they could go back in time and do something good for themselves or be a the chairperson of a certain society, things they never knew they had it in them or things they went through and it never crossed their mind that they actually did it which is exactly what she felt in herself, â€Å"I’ve looked back on my high school and thought: how did I do that? How did I work so hard? † Everybody would have their standards of living and expectations of succeeding however the article also makes us realize that no matter how perfectly we plan, we may not have the ending that we wished for. We can never be certain of what the future holds for us, however as life goes on, we understand that a human being tends to regret her decisions and change their minds ample of times which explains what she had mentioned in paragraph nine â€Å"If only I had majored in biology, if only I’d gotten involved in journalism as a freshman† The writer also shared uncertainties for what the future would hold for her. She starts comparing herself to others who have accomplished more than she has. Life is all about choices and it is these choices that she is most afraid of. The writer also stated that during her time in Yale, she never had to make any life changing choices and knows she has to start doing it once she graduated and is afraid to make the wrong choices. However, she added that however our lives turned out to be, the future is uncertain and that it can be altered at any point of our life. This can be seen when she said â€Å"What we have to remember is that we can still do anything. We can change our minds. We can start over†. At a young age especially an undergraduate student would always feel that there’s always something missing in their lives to what they’ve accomplished. However also at a young age the opportunity that lies ahead in the future is even bigger. For each expect the young adult faces in Yale University, she comes across one conclusion of her college life, loneliness was never involved however happiness, laughter and memories are definitely words to describe it. Stages by stages this article makes us understand that we as human beings should cherish each and every moment that we have and make the best out of it. Sustain it as a memory that becomes apart of you until the very end. Yes life is not a bed of roses however there’s no harm in trying to make it an enjoyable experience and ride.

Analysis of Infosys Technologies Limited

Analysis of Infosys Technologies Limited Infosys Technologies Ltd. was inaugurated in 1981 by seven people with US$ 250. Today, it is a global leader in the ‘next generation of IT and earning revenues of US$ 6.04 billion. Infosys designs, defines and delivers technology-enabled business solutions for Global 2000 companies. Infosys provides a complete range of services by leveraging its dominion and business expertise and strategic alliances with leading technology providers. The objective of this assignment is analysis of Infosys Technologies Limited which provides consulting and IT services. Infosys has been the first one in this field to offer innovative solutions to its clients. The company offers ample range of software services, namely application development and maintenance, independent validation services, infrastructure services, corporate performance management, packaged application services and product engineering and systems integration. Infosys established the Global Delivery Model (GDM), which emerged as a disturbing force in the industry leading to the rise of offshore outsourcing. The GDM is based on the formula of taking work to the site where the best talent is available, where it makes the best economic sense, with the least amount of acceptable risk. Infosys has a world-wide footprint with 64 offices and 63 development centers in US, India, China, Australia, Japan, Middle East, UK, Switzerland, Germany, France, Netherlands, Poland, Canada and many other countries. Infosys and its subsidiaries have 130,820 employees working with it as on March 31, 2011. Infosys takes delight in building strategic long-term client relationships. EVALUATING THE ENVIRONMENT EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT PESTLE ANALYSIS PESTEL ANALYSIS: There are many features in the macro-environment with the intention of the conclusion of the executive of several organizations. PESTEL ANALYSIS OF INFOSYS TECHNOLOGIES LTD. The PESTEL analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. is as follows: (P)olitical While discussing PESTEL analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. firstly I discuss political aspect of PESTEL analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. As part of the countrywide movement and revolutionize, Infosys Technologies Ltd. is immediately one pattern of dense that are triumphant in equally types of business that is familial and worldwide commerce (2003). The positive aspects of the political analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. are that Indian political structure is considered stable enough expect the fact that there is a fear of hung parliament. Government owned companies and PSUs have decided to give more IT projects to Indian IT companies. The negative aspects of the political analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. are that U.S. government has declared that U.S companies that outsource IT work to other locations other than U.S. will not get tax benefit and terrorist attack or war. (E)conomic While discussing PESTEL analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. secondly I discuss economic aspect of PESTEL analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. The positive aspects of the economic analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. are that Domestic IT Spending(Demand): Domestic market to grow by 20% and reach approx USD 20 billion in 2008-09 NASSCOM. Decline in real estate prices has resulted reducing the rental expenditures and due to recession, the layoffs and job-cuts have resulted in low attrition rate. Along with that economic attractivenessdue to cost advantage and other factors is also a positive factor. The negative aspect of the political analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. is of global IT spending trends. (S)ocial While discussing PESTEL analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. secondly I discuss economic aspect of PESTEL analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. The positive aspects of the economic analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. are that English is widely spoken language in India, English medium being the most accepted medium of education. Thus, India boasts of large English speaking population.Regarding educationa number of technical institutes and universities over the country offer IT education are there and working age population is also a constructive societal factor. (T)echnological While discussing PESTEL analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. secondly I discuss economic aspect of PESTEL analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. The positive aspects of the economic analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. are telephony that is India has the worlds lowest call rates (1-2 US cents). India expected to have total subscriber base of about 500 million by 2010. ARPU for GSM is USD 6.6 per month. India has the second largest telephone network after china. Tele-density 19.86 %. Indian technology also give a chance to enterprise telephone services, 3G, Wi-max and VPN are poised to grow. Another positive aspect of Indian technology is the Internet Backbone. Due to IT revolution of „90s, Indian cities and India is well connected with undersea optical cables. Along with that new IT technologies like SOA, Web 2.0, High-definition content, grid computing, etc and innovation in low cost technologies is presenting new challenges and opportunities for Indian IT industry. (L)egal While discussing PESTEL analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. secondly I discuss economic aspect of PESTEL analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. The positive aspects of the economic analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. are that IT SEZ requirement ofIT companies can set up SEZ with minimum area of 10 hectares and enjoy a host of tax benefits and fiscal benefits. Contract / Bond requirements: Huge debates surrounding the bonds under which the employees are required to work, which is not legally required. IT Act like Indian government is strengthening the IT act, 2000 to provide a sound legal environment for companies to operate esp. related to security of data in transmission and storage, etc.Companies operating in Software Technology Park (STPI) scheme will continue to get tax-benefit till 2010. (E)nvironmental While discussing PESTEL analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. secondly I discuss economic aspect of PESTEL analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. The energy efficient processes and equipments that companies are focusing on reducing the carbon footprints, energy utilization, water consumption, etc. PORTERS FIVE FORCES MODEL (INDIAN IT INDUSTRY) Threat of Substitutes: While discussing the Porters analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. the very first point of discussion is threat of substitutes. Regarding threat of substitutes other offshore locationssuch as Eastern Europe, the Philippines and China, are emerging and are posing threat to Indian IT industry because of their cost-advantage. However, this should have an impact only in the medium to long term. Along with that pricequoted for projects is a major differentiator, the quality of products being same. Bargaining power of supplier: While discussing the Porters analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. the second point of discussion is bargaining power of supplier. Due to slowdown, the job-cuts, the layoffs and bleak IT outlook and supply of IT professionals is no longer that favorable to employees. Availability of vast talent pool that is fresher and experienced is also increase buying power of supplier. Bargaining Power of Customers: While discussing the Porters analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd. the third point of discussion is power of buyers. Large number of IT companies vying for IT projects resulting in high competition for projects. On the other hand huge decline in IT expenditure: Indian IT sector is dependent on USA and BFSI in particular for majority of its revenues, and with the recent financial crisis, the new spending from these has reduced tremendously. However, for the existing products and services, the clients continue the old companies. Barriers to Entry: Low While discussing the Porters analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd., the next point of discussion is a new entrant that isLow capital requirements and large value chain which provide space for small enterprises. Along with that MNCs are ramping up capacity and employee strength. Rivalry among Firms: High While discussing the Porters analysis of Infosys Technologies Ltd., the last point of discussion is rivalry among firms.Commoditized offerings, ‘low-cost, little-differentiation positioning, high industry growth and strong competitors like few numbers of large companies. SWOT ANALYSIS OF INFOSYS (S)TRENGTHS Leadership in sophisticated solutions that enable clients to optimize the efficiency of their business. Global and 24/7 delivery capability excellent internet backbone and telecommunications facilities enabling companies to develop 24/7 delivery capabilities from India itself Commitment to superior quality and process execution Infosys has quality standards such as CMM Level 5i to differentiate from other competitors Strong Brand and Long-Standing Client Relationships Status as an employer of choice Ability to scale Innovation and leadership. Cost advantage Presence of Infosys in India is key to its success Breadth of service offering end to end solutions including high end services like IT consultancy and KPO. (W)EAKNESSES Excessive dependence on US for revenues 67 % of revenues from USA. Excessive dependence on BFSI sector for revenues 36 % of revenues from BFSI. Banking sector is facing a crisis globally and is going to spend less on IT. Weak player in domestic market. Only 1 % of revenues from India low as compared to peers Low R D spending as compared to global IT companies only 1.3 % of total revenues Rising wage bill 42.9 % to 44.8 % of revenues Low expertise in high end services like Consultancy and KPO. revenues to be hit hard for Infosys High rates of attrition Although slowdown in global economy has lowered attrition rate but the industry still faces high attrition rates as compared to other sectors. Decreasing competitive advantage rising salary expenses is taking away the cost advantage enjoyed by Indian companies (including Infosys). (O)PPORTUNITIES Domestic market set to grow by 20%. Expanding into new geographies Europe, Middle East, etc Infosys is cash rich (Around US $ 1 Billion) Acquiring companies to increase expertise in Consultancy, KPO and package implementation capabilities Opening offices and development centers in cost advantage countries such as those in Latin America and Eastern Europe. (T)HREATS Intense competition in the market for technology services could affect cost advantages. High dependency on a small number of clients, and the loss of any one of the major clients could significantly impact business. Termination of Client contracts can typically be terminated without cause and with little or no notice or penalty. Global economic slowdown may continue for several years hence low IT spending globally. US Govt. against outsourcing. Shrinking margins due to rising wage inflation. Rupee-dollar movement affects revenue and hence margins. Increased competition from foreign firms like Accenture, IBM etc. Increased competition from low-wage countries like China, Indonesia etc. INFOSYS BCG MATRIX INDIA The Boston Matrix catalog occasion in collection which is total 4 groups, exposed on corporation of Market Growth and Market Share: BCG MATRIX ANALYSIS OF INFOSYS TECHNOLOGIES LTD: Dogs: While discussing BCG Matrix for Infosys Technologies Ltd firstly Dogs are discussed. When market share as well as market growth both are low then the circumstances is known as dogs. If we apply this on Infosys Technologies Ltd none is applied under dogs. Cash Cows: While discussing BCG Matrix for Infosys Technologies Ltd. secondly cash cows are discussed. When market share is high and market growth is low then the situation is known as cash cows. Here, Infosys Technologies Ltd is this situation is applied on maintenance application and development software products. Stars: While discussing BCG Matrix for Infosys Technologies Ltd. thirdly Stars s are discussed. When market split and market enlargement both are high then the situation is known as stars. Here Infosys Technologies Ltd.BPO is come under stars. Question Marks: While discussing BCG Matrix for Infosys Technologies Ltd. fourthly and finally question marks are discussed. When market share is low and market growth is high then the situation is called question marks. Question marks are also known as problem child. Consulting KPO and package information are considered as question marks here. McKinseys 7 S Model Strategy Infosys has adopted a client-focused strategy to achieve growth. Rather than concentrating on numerous small organizations, it concentrates on limited number of large organizations globally. In order to gratify its clients, the company stresses on custom-built software. Another contrasting factor for Infosys is that it commands premium margins. Company does not adjusts over margins beyond a certain point and sometime prefers to walk-out rather than compromise and adjust on quality for low-cost contracts. This has helped in establishing an image for quality driven model rather than cost-differentiating model. Increase business from existing and new clients Expand geographically Enhance solution set: Stresses on emerging trends, new technologies, specific industries and pervasive business issues. Develop deep industry knowledge Enhance brand visibility Pursue alliances and strategic acquisitions Leadership Style Infosys believes that leadership is one of the most primary and essential ingredients of organizational success which is provided by its Chairman, N R Narayanmurthy. Leadership is based on high business vision and prevailing supportive styles. There is attention on developing leadership qualities among employees. For this purpose, it has constituted â€Å"Infosys Leadership Institute†. Top management lays stress on open door policy, continuous sharing of information, takes inputs from employees in decision making, and builds personal empathy with employees. Staff (Human Resources) Since Infosys is in knowledge-based industry, it focuses on the quality of the human resources. Out of total employees of the organization, about 90 per cent are engineers. At the entry level, it lays stress on selecting candidates who find the companys meritocratic culture satisfying, superior academic records, technical skills, and high level of learn ability. The company also stresses on training and development of its employees on constant basis and spends about 2.65 per cent of its profits on up gradation of employees skills, and around 50% as employee costs. Shared Values Values are essential part of Infosyss organizational culture. In fact its tagline characterizes how much emphasis it lays on basic values. The basic values are: Customer Satisfaction: A commitment exceeding customer expectations. Leadership by Example: A commitment to set principles in business and transactions and be an exemplar for the industry and teams. Integrity and Clarity: A commitment to be worthy, sincere and open in our dealings. Fairness: A commitment to be impersonal and transaction-oriented, thereby earning trust and respect. Quest of Excellence: A commitment to strive continuously, to regularly improve ourselves, our teams, our services and products so as to become the best. Organizational Structure The company has adopted a free form organization devoid of hierarchies. Everyone is known as assistant irrespective of his position in the company. Software development is undertaken through teams and the content of teams is based on the principle of flexibility. A member, who might have been team leader in one project, may be substituted with another member of the same team for another project. This system not only helps in developing the feeling of equality but also helps in developing project leaders. Skills From last year, Infosys has made it mandatory for every employee to clear a predefined certifications, domain as well as technical, in order to be eligible for appraisal. This is just one of the initiatives taken by Infosys which signifies the efforts taken for building competencies. Apart from internal initiatives like knowledge management, Infosys has been CMM-Level 5 certified for its process capabilities. Infosys has entered the Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame for Executing Strategy for achieving breakthrough performance results using the Balanced Scorecard (BSC). GRAND STRATEGIES Ansoffs Matrix: Current Market New Market Current Product Market Penetration Strategy Market Development Strategy New Product Product Development Strategy Diversification Strategy MARKET PENETRATION STRATEGY: Current Markets: While discussing market penetration strategy the first point of discussion is current markets. For Infosys Technologies Ltd current markets are USA and Europe. Products: While discussing market penetration strategy the second point of discussion is products. For Infosys Technologies Ltd products are ADM, BPO, KPO, consultancy services (in BFSI, manufacturing and retail) and software products (financial products). Recommendation: While discussing market penetration strategy the third point of discussion is recommendation. For Infosys Technologies Ltd as most large clients in US and Europe are cutting costs, Infosys needs to be more aggressive on cost and quality front. Result of strategy: While discussing market penetration strategy the last point of discussion is result of strategy. For Infosys Technologies Ltdthe result of strategy is unlikely to yield good results. MARKET DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY: New Market: While discussing market development strategy the first point of discussion is new markets. For Infosys Technologies Ltd new markets are India, Middle-east and Australia. Current Product: While discussing market development strategy the second point of discussion is current product. For Infosys Technologies Ltd current products are ADM, BPO, KPO, consultancy services (in BFSI, manufacturing and retail) and software products (financial products). Recommendation: While discussing market development strategy the third point of discussion is recommendation. For Infosys Technologies Ltd current markets since these are fast developing IT market, Infosys needs a paradigm shift in focus from US and EU markets to these markets. Result of strategy: While discussing market development strategy the fourth point of discussion is result of strategy. For Infosys Technologies Ltd current markets are likely to yield good result. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY: Current Market: USA and Europe New Product: Consultancy and package implementation services in relatively growing sectors esp. healthcare, life sciences and aviation sector, and KPO services. Recommendation: Concentrate on building expertise in these domains by strategic acquisitions. Result of Strategy: Likely to have good result. (Better the company acquired, the better the result). DIVERSIFICATION: New Market: India, Middle-east and Australia New product: Consultancy and package implementation services in relatively growing sectors esp. healthcare, life sciences and aviation sector, and KPO services. Recommendation: Changing Brand image from low value service provider to high value service provider. Result of Strategy: Difficult to achieve overnight (possible in long term). OTHER STRATEGIES: CONCENTRATION: 90% of Infosys revenues from American and European nations. VERTICAL INTEGRATION: Infosys recently made a bid to acquire a European major Axon consultancy to improve its business in European markets, but finally called off the deal due to high valuation. Otherwise, Infosys has always believed in organic growth. INNOVATION: The Software Engineering and Technology Labs (SETLabs) at Infosys is the center for applied technology research in software engineering and enterprise technology. SET Labs conducted 24 Innovation Workshops with customers from the US and Australia, to identify research collaboration possibilities. Infosys promotes a favorable work environment that encourages innovation and meritocracy. At the conclusion of this assignment I would like discuss the main points. Global sourcing strategy is aligned with business strategy. Enhancing operational efficiency and delivering value added services. Structuring processes and services into modules thus leading to enhanced flexibility and productivity. Aggressive focus on ERP solutions like Oracle and SAP.. this conclusion is based on the rigorous analysis and one can learn for the conclusion to expand into high end consulting. Consolidation and Strategic acquisitions are essential for future growth of revenues.Shift in focus from low cost advantage to high quality services. Quick adoption to high growth markets is necessary.

9-1-1: An American Emergency :: September 11 Terrorism Essays

9-1-1: An American Emergency When hijackers coordinated the take-over of four passenger planes on September 11, they sent out a 9-1-1. It was truly an emergency call. Emergency comes from emerge and emergence, from the Latin word for to plunge out--it means to rise from, to come out into view. We have listened to stories of rescue and sacrifice. We have watched First Responders, the Fire and Emergency Medical teams that are first on the scene of a disaster. We have recognized so many people as the heroes they are. But it's not over. There is plenty of emergency response work still to be done, over a long period of time, and this gives us all a chance to be heroes in our own way. It was an airport security emergency and an air traffic control emergency. It was a national security emergency. It was a crisis management emergency. It was a belief and reality emergency--days later, I heard people repeating "It's not real, it's not real" and "I can't believe it." It was a shock and grief emergency, and experts say the trauma will go on for months and years. Some people are already discussing rebuilding on the site in lower Manhattan, but who will want to have an office to do business on a mass grave? It was a political emergency, and the government mobilized. It was an intelligence emergency--why didn't we know enough to prevent it? It was a religious and spiritual emergency--how can we understand the purpose of death and destruction on this scale? It was a patriotic emergency-- how do we respond to an "Attack on America?" It was a peace and justice emergency--do we have a repertoire of response that does not take the form of violent retaliation and retribution? It was a democracy emergency--how do we preserve our principles in adversity? It was a tolerance and understanding emergency--how do we keep from turning against people from other religious and cultural groups, ethnic groups and nationalities that we identify with the criminals, the enemy?

Sports, Athletes, and Weight Loss: Health Concerns Essay -- Health Nut

Weight Loss by Athletes and Health Concerns Waking up, sophomore Mike Fumagalli would peel off the garbage bags and layers of clothing he had worn to bed the night before hoping to "sweat away" some extra weight. Throughout the day, he would ask teachers to use their trashcans and would spit constantly. Sometimes, he would even cut his hair or sit in a sauna, all to lose a couple more pounds. Many people may wonder why someone would go to such extreme measures just to lose a few pounds. For Fumagalli, the answer was simply: "Everyone likes to win. That's why you cut weight." "Cutting weight" is a term that refers to a wrestler's attempt to lose a certain amount of weight in order to compete in a particular weight category in wrestling competitions. Some wrestlers choose to lose weight so they can find a spot on the team, said Keith Healy, varsity wrestling coach of the nationally ranked team at Smallville High School. Since only a certain number of slots are open per weight class, a wrestler may be beat out of a spot at one weight but perhaps can drop down to a lower weight where more openings are available. Junior Sean Randich said that cutting weight also could be important because as one moves down in weight classes it is easier to win. A common weight-loss method among the athletes is to wrap their body in garbage bags during exercise to maximize sweat loss, said Randich. He added that while the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) prohibits this method, it is still commonly practiced. JT wrestling coach "Mac" McLaughlin said that although he could not control what athletes did at home, at practice, garbage bags are not allowed. He added that most of his wrestlers, in fact, wear onl... ... children's bodies," said Haas. McLaughlin said that he tells parents, "If your kid looks like he's getting tired, souped out, stop." Healy also consults parents about their child's weight loss and said that before any wrestler on his team makes the decision to cut a large amount of weight, he first consults the parents. "Because of cutting weight, my mom doesn't like the whole sport," said Fumagalli. He said that while his mom was supportive in helping him cut weight by doing such things as making salads, she drew the line when he began to get sick. Fumagalli, who said he frequently cut weight in junior high, said he lost 12 pounds before this season but stopped when he started to get light-headed and dizzy. "There is a fine line between determination of sport and health," said Fumagalli. "Strength is more important than losing two pounds."

Call Report :: essays research papers

Bosch fuel tube report On August 9th, Bosch realized a failure of their fuel pump/filter unit for a new model fuel tank. In the past they used a  ½Ã¢â‚¬  gasket on the old fuel tank, when GM changed the design, this became a problem. There was no longer a  ½Ã¢â‚¬  gasket, thus causing problems for the pump to retract all the way to the top flange of the pump unit. The top flange has a rough grove on top where the fuel tube comes in contact. I was asked by Bosch to investigate a more durable abrasive sleeve then the one they currently using. Bosch uses a GPT-483 3/8† (131,843 cycles to failure) sleeve for their current application. By the use of SAE ARP 1536 test method, I was able to make a few recommendations on Sofanou sleeving products. The product line that I recommended is; Nu-Guard NTW-WR  ½Ã¢â‚¬  (1,163,483 cycles to failure), Nu-Guard DPT 3/8† nylon 6, 6 (new to Sofanou product line) (356,425 cycles to failure), and Nu-Guard N 3/8† (295,198 cycles to failure). On August 20th I met and brain-stormed with Bosch Engineers; Martin Kling (Engineering Manager), John Lennen (Engineering Unit Manager), Ralph Gordinier (Sr. Program Lead Engineer), Ted Perniciaro (Senior Engineer), Mike Zick (Engineer), Dave Toutant (Component Specialist), Dave Brown (Senior Test Engineer) and Rich Minix (Lead Technician) on developing a test that would reflect the current process problem. Similar to the ARP 1536 test method, we decided to use an aggressive saw blade for a tear test for the three different products. Entela Testing was in charge of this test project. On August 23rd, Andrew Gleason (Engineering 1) from Entela coordinated the testing and reported: Nu-Guard NTW-WR  ½Ã¢â‚¬  @ 2,200 cycles to fail, Nu-Guard DPT 3/8† nylon 6, 6 @ 750 cycles to fail, Nu-Guard and Nu-Guard N 3/8† @ 410 cycles to fail.

Cold War Essay

The Cold War represents the disputes between the Soviet Union and the United States, and may be the most noteworthy political issue of the late 20th Century. The Cold War was a very political issue because it influenced foreign policies, impacted our economy, and even affected Presidential elections. The United States was worried that the Soviet Union would extend communism throughout Europe with its power and control over smaller and weaker countries. At the beginning of the Cold War the struggles between the United States and the Soviet Union were more political than military. The Soviet Union detonated its first atomic bomb on August 29, 1949 which alarmed the United States because they were not expecting the Soviet Union to have knowledge of nuclear weapons (The Cold War Museum, n. d. ). Consequently, Americans were uncertain of their own safety, prompting President Truman to reexamine the United States position in the world. He required the United States to amass conventional and nuclear weapons to cease the Soviet influence from spreading around the world. The arms race began, and each side mass produced and strategically placed missiles throughout their country and their allied countries. Other events occurred during the Cold War era adding fuel to the Cold War: the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Bay of Pigs. My first interviewee was a female in her early sixties whom lived through the Cold War period – my mother. As a retired school teacher, I expected my mother to have a deeper understanding of the Cold War than a person that simply lived through the period. Her definition of the Cold War clearly supported the definition stated in this course. When I asked my mother what words or phrases come to mind when she thinks of the term Cold War, she did not hesitate in her response: â€Å"United States and the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev, John F. Kennedy, George Patton, and World War II† (B. Rego, personal communication, May 27, 2013). She related to me that the aspects of the Cold War that she remembered were â€Å"that the Soviets felt that the United States was not revealing key military information after World War II, and their suspicions were confirmed when the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima† (B.  Rego, personal communication, May 27, 2013). I went on to ask her to name any key events that are mainly associated with the Cold War, and she replied â€Å"the Bay of Pigs† (B. Rego, personal communication, May 27, 2013). My mother was able to accurately remember the parties involved in the Cold War, as well as key details and key events of the period having lived through the period, not as a child but as a young adult. My second interviewee was a male in his mid-thirties whom did not live through the Cold War period, but studied it in school. My younger brother’s definition of the Cold War was â€Å"long period of tensions between countries† (J. Rego, personal communication, May 27, 2013). His definition is similar to the definition provided in this course with the exception that he did not mention specifically the United States and the Soviet Union. When questioned about what aspects of the Cold War he remembers he stated â€Å"I remember Korea and Vietnam† (J. Rego, personal communication, May 27, 2013). Although he is not incorrect in his response, it was interesting to me that he again omitted the involvement of the United States and the Soviet Union. When asked about the key events mainly associated with the Cold War, my brother said â€Å"the only key event I remember was the Berlin Wall, and when President Reagan and Gorbachev signed the peace treaty† (J. Rego, personal communication, May 27, 2013). His recollection of the key events associated with the Cold War albeit accurate, were lacking in detail. He did not mention the Bay of Pigs, or the Cuban Missile Crisis. I suppose that the generation gap between our mother and our generation has unfortunately made the details of the Cold War less memorable. My final interviewee was a male in his early twenties whom also did not live through the Cold War period, but studied it in school. My son’s definition of the Cold War was â€Å"a weapons race between the USA and Soviet Union with no shots fired† (A. Egnew, personal communication, May 26, 2013). His definition is similar to the definition provided in this course in that he recalled the parties involved being the United States and the Soviet Union. When asked what words or phrases come to mind when thinking of the term Cold War he replied â€Å"stockpile and weapons race† (A. Egnew, personal communication, May 26, 2013). I questioned him about any key events that he could remember that is mainly associated with the Cold War, and his answer was â€Å"I can’t name any† (A. Egnew, personal communication, May 26, 2013). It is interesting to me, yet not surprising that as the generation gap widens the details of the Cold War are more easily forgotten. The Cold War was a very prominent event in United States history for key events such as the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Bay of Pigs, and the Berlin Wall, but noteworthy also for the civil rights movement, gender equality, and racial segregation issues (Farber, 1994). The Cold War changed the way Americans view authority, and opened the door for American citizens to question political decisions. Without the Cold War period, perhaps our lives today would be much different. Would slavery still exist? What about racial segregation? Our lives today would surely be different if the Cold War never happened.

Is China’s Investment in Africa an Example of Neo-Colonialism or Is It an Example of South-South Development

Is China’s Investment in Africa an example of Neo-Colonialism or is it an example of South-South Development? China has been significantly involved in the development of African countries in recent years, with an estimated 1 million Chinese people now residing in Africa. Trade between China and Africa was worth in excess of $100 billion in 2010, which shows how important the relationship between the two areas has become. However, there are questions surrounding whether China is merely using Africa for its own benefits rather than investing in development of the poorest continent in the world.Angola Angola is China’s largest trading partner with a trade value of $24. 8 billion in 2010. Angola is a country with vast oil reserves and is now China’s largest supplier of oil shipping one million barrels every day. This supply has caused many Chinese TNCs to setup operations in Angola. These TNCs have brought with them their own Chinese workers due to their reputation f or a high level of speed and efficiency in their work. These workers earn what would be a huge wage for Angolans (? 20 per day).They return this money back to China meaning that income is lost from Angola and also there is a reduction in employment opportunities for Angolan workers, which doesn’t help to improve the high unemployment situation. However, many Angolans think Chinese investment is a massive positive due to the new infrastructure, goods and services that will be available for the public to purchase. The Chinese are helping to reconstruct a main railway line that runs through a large part of Africa. This has allowed small business people to sell their goods all across Africa.The effect of this is an increase in consumption for the economies as trade is vigorous and this could cause an increase in economic growth if trading continues and also grows. Locals think that Chinese have done a good job on the railways as they are making more money (increase in standard of living) However, the railway is heavily linked with oil. China only provides loans and cheap finance (used to pay for railway) with Angola in return for the oil. So they’re not necessarily just developing a nation, they want to gain themselves in return.Oil is a key commodity needed for production, which is largely what China’s economy is made up of. Chinese construction companies also receive lucrative contracts, so income again is flowing back to China. So from this, we cans see that China has a neo-colonialism style relationship with Angola, but also has helped improve the standard of living for their people. Zambia Zambia has also experienced interest from China. Tourism is one of Zambia’s most important industries due to its scenery, weather and animal diversity.The Chinese tourist sector is growing massively, and will be essential for nations like Zambia in the future. However, factors of Chinese culture mean that Zambian wildlife is being threatened. Inc reasing numbers of elephants have been killed for their ivory, even though the international trade of it is illegal. But, its price on the black market has been soaring. Ivory is being made into chopsticks in China once it is exported. Also, many Zambian traders resent the Chinese competition. Zambians have lost a lot of income to Chinese sellers, and indigenous industries could be crushed by Chinese competition.Chinese sellers have also treated their workers terribly. Zambia has one of the largest supplies of copper in the world, and the Chinese Metal Ferrous Group now owns the mine. This is an example of exploitation of resources as they will export it back to China, and Zambia loses a great opportunity to generate large quantities of income. This an example of the Chinese taking as much as possible and giving little back to the local economy. This shows that China has had a completely negative impact on Zambia as a nation, and is a clear example of how neo-colonialism still can e xist.Zimbabwe Zimbabwe has experienced terrible economic problems recently. It has been hit with the second highest inflation rate ever recorded due to hyperinflation and the rapid decrease in value of their currency. It has been run for 30 years by Robert Mugabe. Western governments have imposed countless sanctions for his regime’s terrible record on human rights. However, China has supported Mugabe on the international stage and the Chinese government has opposed sanctions. Therefore, China is making life easy for Mugabe to continue to abuse human rights laws.Here again shows how China has had now positive impact on Zimbabwe, and they have decreased the standard of living for its people as Mugabe’s reign continues. The Democratic Republic of Congo The DRC has a vast reserve of copper, diamonds, cobalt and other rare metals. It is very important to China has their top import it valuable minerals with a trade value of $50. 6 billion, way above its second largest import of metal ($6. 5 billion). 90% of Katanga’s minerals go to China as miners sell their minerals to Chinese traders based in Congo.The miners say that the Chinese are effectively ‘stealing from them’ as the price they pay is so low for these valuable materials. Allegations have also been raised that local workers have been abused. China’s activity in the DRC is a typical example of neo-colonialism as they are exploiting miners and buying at such low prices it feels like they are being stolen from. Tanzania Tanzania is one of China’s oldest trading partners. One of the largest railways in the world, The Tazara Railway was built by Chinese workers in Tanzania, and is a symbol of pride for the country. China also gives Tanzania significant aid and financial support.This is one of the only examples that really shows how China are interested in developing an African nation and aren’t exploiting the country’s natural resources for their own ga in. Conclusion In conclusion, China is involved in both neo-colonialism and development in African nations. However, I think that they have a greater influence using a neo-colonialist style of interest. They have exploited many nations in Africa, so it is clear that they are trying to benefit their own nation and further increase their impressive rate of growth with cheaper resources for their thriving productive industry.